I am rebuilding my FJ55 and will need to find something to make decent bends in sheet metal. I will be restoring a hood for it and will need to replace the front lip of the hood with new sheet metal which will require a bend on the front lip of the hood piece that I replace. I will also probably need to bend up some other areas like the rear rounded areas on the wheel wells.

I found this at Harbor freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34104

What I am unsure is if this will be able to make bends like the above I am describing? the directions mention rolling beads which at this time I am not too concerned with but will need to be able to make nice clean bends to match up per my description above on the hood. Does anyone have the above press and is it fairly universal to bend sheet metal and make customized repair panels or would you reccomend something else. Looks like there is an optional piece that they say allows for flanges and cuts. I don't own a shop so I can't afford a very expensive tool which is why i thought this would work for me.

I also found this on HF, super cheap: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39103
I may go this route, what I am trying to understand is what is the main differences in the above more expensive tool and this simple sheet metal brake?

any help greatly appreciated!

Noah

Your first link doesn't work. Is it a brake, or is it a bead roller. You can get dies for bead rollers that will roll a 90* flange onto the edges of sheet metal, but they won't be effective for bends further in than 1/2" or so.

Ryan

try again please, fixed it, not sure what it is, need some clarification on what it can/cannot do for sure.

Noah

I also found this on HF, super cheap: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39103
I may go this route, what I am trying to understand is what is the main differences in the above more expensive tool and this simple sheet metal brake?

Noah, this is a POS. I'll give you one if you want it. Don't waste your money. Bo

well shit Bo, that is kind of ya! :)

by the way, are you serious??

Noah

That first one is a bead roller. It is not usefull as a sheetmetal brake at all, but it is the easiest way to bend a flange on wheel well openings or the edge of a hood, where the bend is not in a straight line.

Ryan

so it sounds like the brake will do the job, so the roller is more to "roll" a bent surface and also create dimple lines in flat metal to make it stronger?? The piece on the hood is basically a straight bend with one side about 4 inches and the other side about 1/2 inch, and about 28 inches long. The other piece I will need to make is the wheelwell patch which I believe should just be a square piece of metal which will need to be rounded a bit. The other areas will basically just be flat pieces of repair patch panels. So, does the brake seem like it will do all the above or will I need a more complete tool?

Noah

well shit Bo, that is kind of ya! :)

by the way, are you serious??

Noah

Sure. Are you going out to ODF @ Occotillo this weekend?

BO, pm'd ya....

A piece of steel stock clamped to your workbench will work just as well as the cheap HF one.

fryphax, can you elaborate a bit on how one would set something up like this will steel stock? I have a wooden bench that I put down a thick piece of metal plate to weld on.

Noah

I have the second brake you linked. It will make great bends. I have used it along with 16GA steel to build many different body parts, new inner fenders and access hatches for my tranny tunnel. Can't beat it for the money and it beats the hell out of just making something up in the shop for a tool. It can make very precise bends as well, but only as precise as the operator is capable of.

thanks Larry, thats what I was looking for, sounds like this is what I need.

thanks Larry, thats what I was looking for, sounds like this is what I need.

I just realized your looking at the 18". I have the larger 30" (I think that's the size). It's the same in every way only wider. I love mine and have built some parts that people are constantly asking me where I bought them. :D

I have both fo the tools you linked to. The 18" brake is a pain for doing larger pieces. The bead roller doesn't like steel much at all, but works like nobody's business on aluminium flashing.

HF has a nice 36" brake on sale now for $169.99 that they claim will bend 12 gauge sheetmetal, and it comes with it's own stand. If I hadn't just dumped $500 on tires and $125 on a driveshaft, I'd have one.

Peace,
PT

yeah, I think I am sold on the 30 inch one, that should do the trick. thanks for everyones opinions.

noah